Thread spool



Aug. 8, 1944. B. M. HARVEY ET AL THREAD SPOOL Filed Feb. 23, 1944 IN VEN TORS Beafrz' ceMHaruey lire/1 f'l/ BHarueg B Za ATTCI R'N EYS Patented Aug. 8, 1944 Be r M- HarveyandHenry Brookline, Pal

BfHarvey,

V v Application February, 23, i944, Serial No. 523,598

' 7 Claims (o1.' 242--' 1i8) This-invention relates to improvements in spools, and more particularly threadlspools, and .has for its primary object the provision of a spool formed or equipped with means adapted toreceive and retain a needle, when not in use,

in conveniently accessible position for service when'required.

Another object'of the invention comprises the "furnishing of a spool with means whereby when the spool is mounted, for example, on the spindle 1 of a sewing machine or the like, the bearing sur- "face or portion'of the spool contacting the adjacent spindle, will create a retarding friction op- :posed to the free rotation of the spool to prevent over-running of the same as thread is drawn therefrom. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a thread spool of conventional type, ordinarily of wood, provided with a recess or pocket'at one or both ends of the spool adjoining the bore or spindle passage therethrough, and an insert or inserts confined in the pocketed portions against endwise accidental removal from the spool, the inserts being hollow and of penetrable material in registration with the bore of the spool and exposed interiorly of the spool for the reception of a needle forced laterally into the body of the insert; and, preferably'said embodiment possesses the added characteristic of having the insert or inserts project inwardly beyond the normal wall of the bore or opening through the spool to present a frictional retarding surface or surfaces to the surface of the spindle on which the spool may be mounted, and thus prevent an over-running of the spool when the thread is withdrawn therefrom, as in a sewing machine operation.

Other features of the invention will be appar- I latter is not engaged with a spindle or the like; and

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views, in elevation'and section,'of one of the inserts of the spool. r

Referring more specifically to the drawing wherein the same reference numerals refer to ,the same parts in the several views, 4 designates an ordinary wooden spool having the customary .end flanges 5 and roll 6' on which the thread is .wound or unwound between said flanges 5. The body of the spool has the through passage I,

adapted to receive the spindle .8, projecting from 'asirpp-ort 9, typical of a spool supporting spindle ;-of a sewing machine or the like. .-bore or opening I terminates short of one or both endsrof the spool (both being herein shown) where recesses or pockets 8 are formed interiorly ,of the roll 6 for the reception of penetrable resilient inserts .9 adapted to receive the pointed The normal end of aneedle for safe and convenientkeeping when the latter is not in use, asindicated at l0, These inserts are formed of a suitable material such as sponge-rubber or felt-the former being preferred-adapted to receive the pointed end of the needle and to frictionally grip the same until forcibly abstracted.

Each of the pockets or recesses 8 has an inner shoulder or bottom as indicated at II, a vertical wall I2 of any desired cross section-a cylindrical formation being'indicatedand an upwardly and inwardly inclined top wall l3 leading to the end of the spool at approximately the terminal point of the normal bore or passage through the spool. This formation of the top wall of the pocket or recess is to provide a suitable overhang to prevent escape of the insert 9' while presenting a minimum of the wood construction of the spool to interfere with the introduction of a needle at the end of the latter in a diagonal inclined direction, so as to immediately penetrate the material of the insert, it being observed that the insert is hollow as at M, and in line with the opening I or bore of the spool so that a substantial area of the insert is presented, interiorly thereof, for engagement by the point of the needle.

The insert may be inserted in a compressed condition and then. permitted to expand into its complemental pocket or it may be of strip material which can be inserted in overlapped condition and permitted to extend itself to hug the interior wall of the pocket, or any other preferred or convenient manner of inserting the inserts may be resorted to. The normal adherence and expanding tendency of the rubber, felt or the like will effectually retain the same in the pocket but, if desired, a cementitlous material may be utilized to more firmly secure the same in place as will be obvious.

The width of the insert 9' is of somewhat greater extent than the bottom wall or shouldered portion ll of the spool so that the centrally disposed opening of the insert is of substantially less diameter than the diameter of the normal spindle-receiving opening 1 of the spool, so that the inner part of the insert projects inwardly beyond the surface of the wall of saidopening or bore of the spool to the end that when a complemental supporting spindle, as 8, is received into 3 the spool, and the spool rotated thereon, there exerted between the insert, or inserts, and spintioned. a

and being formed hollow in line with the normal opening through the spool, the spool having an over-hanging part to secure the insert against escape from the end of the spool, the inner wall of the insert being projected inwardly beyond the normal wall of the bore of the spool substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A thread spool having a pocket at one end thereof and a penetrable insert in said pocket having an opening registering with the opening through the spool, the pocket for the insert havi ng a seat at the lower end thereof for the inv a sert, and an inclined top wall converging inwardly will be a frictional rotative retarding influence .15. dle to create a drag and correspondingly prevent;

to approximately the end of the spool, the inner wall of the insert being projected inwardly be- I yond the normal wall of the bore of the spool subover-running of the same, as hereinbefore men:

It will be apparent that, within the, scopeof the hereto appended claims various modifications in details of theconstruction, as claimed, may be resorted to without departing from the invention.

We claim: u o

1. A thread spool having a needle-receiving insert therein of penetrable material, said insert being seated in a recess at the end of thespool and being formed hollow in line .with the normal opening through the spool, the'spool having an over-hanging part to secure the insert against escape from the end of the spool;

2. A thread spool having a pocket at one end thereof and a penetrable insert in said pocket having an opening registering with the opening 7 through the spool, the pocket for the insert having a seat. at the lower end thereof for the insert, and an inclined top wall converging upwardly to approximately the end of the spool substantially as described. 1 i

3. A thread spool having a'needle-receiving insert therein of penetrable material, said insert being seated in a recess at the'end of the spool stantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A thread spool provided with a normal through passage or bore, and penetrable inserts secured in the opposite ends of the spool, said inserts having passages registering with said bore of the spool and the spool having. means to prevent dislodgment of the inserts from the ends of the spool. 1

6. A thread spool provided with a normal through passage or bore, and a penetrable insert secured in the end of the spool, said insert: having a passage registering with said bore of the. spool and the spool having means to prevent dislodgment of the insert. from the end of the spool.

7. A thread spool provided with. an insert of penetrable material having an opening registering with the normal opening or bore of the spool, said material having minimum exposure at the end of the spool and a body of substantial thickness therebelow to afiord lateral engagement with said thickened body portion of said insert by the point of a needle when inserted on an incline through the inner surface of the insert.

BEATRICE M. HARVEY. HENRY B. HARVEY. 

